A new report by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), found the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano eruption in the South Pacific on 15 January 2022, injected ~10% of water into the global stratosphere, which was still present in 2025.
About 159 scientists from 21 countries, analyzed the most explosive volcanic event of the satellite era.
They combined comprehensive satellite, balloon, and ground-based observations with global modeling studies, to get to the impact of the eruption and its effects on the ozone.
Tim Naish, Chair of the WCRP’s Joint Scientific Committee, said “this assessment shows how Hunga’s water-rich plume reshaped the stratosphere in ways not seen before. It underscores the importance of sustained observations and advanced modelling, and the value of international scientific collaboration through WCRP in delivering robust climate insights.”
Scientists also found the mud to upper stratosphere cooled by 0.5–1°C.
The incident also had a minor impact on the Antarctic ozone hole and surface climate.
They also concluded that the 2023–2024 record temperatures were not caused by the eruption.
Yungian Zhu, Co-Chairperson at the University of Colorado’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Chemical Sciences Laboratory), said “the Hunga eruption was unlike anything observed before. It taught us how profoundly water-rich eruptions can affect the stratosphere and how essential global cooperation is, in capturing and understanding such rare events.”
The report warns, however, that future observational gaps – rom potential satellite mission cancellations or aging networks, could severely limit the world’s ability to monitor and understand similar major events.
Picture: IUGS.